Egyptian Media Production City has decided to not sign with the producer of the television drama “Ala Naar Hade’a” (On Low Heat) due to the extremely high wages that were requested. The drama was to star prominent Egyptian actress Elham Shahin, and is written by Kawthar Haikal and director Abdul Aziz Al Sukari.

According to the Qatar based daily, Al Raya, the producer of the drama explained that he requested the high salary because Elham had doubled her wage to star in the drama.

Elham shocked the committee for artist’s wages at the Egyptian Broadcasting Union when she demanded to be paid half a million US dollars to star in the television drama series. The committee felt strongly that the actress is exaggerating her wage and revealed that such a price has never been paid to any artist since the introduction of television in Egypt.

The committee was also surprised by the influx of demands by other stars for an increase in their wages. The committee stated that it will hold a number of meetings to discuss the wage dilemma which is threatening the production of new television dramas.

Elham notified the Egyptian Media Production Company that she has set three million Egyptian pounds as her wage for starring in any new television drama and the amount is not negotiable. The head of the company considered the amount set by the actress as an obstacle that will hinder the production of television dramas.

Elham previously demanded this wage when she was offered the leading role in the upcoming television drama “Raya and Iskeena”, but the media city refused her demand and found a substitute. Production companies fear that other stars will begin to demand such extremely high wages which cannot be met.